Our context
In our values we commit to treating others with dignity and respect, this includes respect for human rights and an undertaking to operate according to the highest standards of business ethics. As a business that aspires to live the belief that ‘people are the business’, our concern for operating with respect for human rights stems from our aim to place people first in all aspects of the business.
A member of the United Nations (UN) Global Compact since 2004, we have recorded our commitment to observing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to upholding the basic labour rights captured in the Fundamental Principles of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). We value diversity and believe that diversity in employment can make a positive contribution to achieving our business objectives.
Human rights considerations cut across a range of disciplines at AngloGold Ashanti, including health, safety, security, community, environmental, human resources, legal and regulatory, ethics, governance and labour relations. Operating with respect for human rights is a particularly relevant consideration for us because of the location of many of the company’s operations in regions of the world, including in post-conflict zones, where there are few formal employment opportunities apart from mining.
This context creates the potential for tension between mines and communities over issues such as land usage, relocation, and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). ASM activity is often the cause of difficult security issues, including allegations of breaches of human rights. Potential solutions lie in devising programmes for co-habitation with ASM activity and in ensuring that security responses observe the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (the VPSHR).
In striving to meet our commitments and to mitigate risk, we have aimed to take human rights considerations into account in developing policies in the areas of health, safety, community, environment, human resources, security and corporate governance. In particular, we have focused on implementing and embedding the VPSHR in our security management practices.
We have not, however, had a company-wide human rights policy in place. This is an area of work which was initiated in 2010 and will be developed further in 2011, in alignment with the progress that has been made in the UN in defining the responsibilities of business to respect human rights.
Human rights targets in 2011
In 2011, we therefore aim to develop a policy, frameworks and procedures on human rights, giving due recognition to the guiding principles on business and human rights which are currently being formulated by the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative on Business and Human Rights, Professor John Ruggie, and are scheduled for presentation to the UN Human Rights Council during 2011. The guidelines are intended to be a blueprint for businesses, and outline recommended policies and procedures.
We also aim to complete implementation of our global security framework by the end of 2011, which will further entrench our commitment and compliance to the VPSHR.
A full review of all contracts with private and public security services worldwide is in progress in order to standardise contract requirements, and is targeted for completion by the end of 2011.
In 2011, our objective is to operate with zero violations of the VPSHR (in 2010, two violations were substantiated in relation to third-party security forces).
Human rights performance in 2010
In 2010, the company’s activity on human rights issues focused on two areas:
- preliminary work towards developing over-arching human rights policies and procedures, including a gap analysis to assess the extent to which AngloGold Ashanti’s policies and performance measure up to the UN framework on business and human rights; and
- continuing implementation of the VPSHR in the company’s approach to security management.
Developing human rights policies and procedures
In 2005, Professor John Ruggie was given a mandate from the United Nations to identify and clarify standards of corporate responsibility and accountability with regard to human rights. Significant work has been undertaken since this mandate was awarded, including the production of a series of public reports.
The ‘Ruggie agenda’, as set out in these reports, is becoming the primary international guideline regarding business and human rights. It holds that companies have a responsibility to respect human rights across a broad range of areas and recognises the VPSHR as an integral component in achieving this.
The framework rests on three distinct but complementary pillars:
- the state’s duty to protect against human rights abuses by third parties, including business;
- corporate responsibility to respect human rights; and
- the need for more effective access to remedies.
The corporate responsibility to respect human rights applies to all recognised human rights. These are mainly derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Results from the gap analysis on AngloGold Ashanti’s systems compared with the UN (Ruggie) framework suggested that we should:
- review and evaluate whether our Code of Ethics and other relevant statements and sources contain language sufficiently strong and clear to constitute a human rights policy and, if not, draft such a policy;
- refine and develop existing tools for ongoing and regular due diligence with respect to human rights;
- approve and institute a draft management standard for the handling of grievances, including allegations of human rights violations; and
- develop tools and a framework for fulfilling responsibilities in respect of our supply chain. This involves adopting a risk-aware approach, where the performance of contractors, suppliers and partners is verified and tracked, and procedures identified for acting on adverse human rights behaviour.
In November 2010 a scoping process to develop a human rights policy and framework was approved. The implementation programme which is currently being outlined includes:
- assigning accountability for each aspect of the policy framework;
- integrating human rights with the relevant system; and
- training as required in support of the policy.
During 2010, AngloGold Ashanti participated in several Ruggie consultations to progress this work, and conducted ongoing informal interactions with members of Ruggie’s team. These engagements assisted us in preparing the ground for AngloGold Ashanti to meet its human rights responsibilities in terms of the UN framework.
http://www.anglogold.co.za/subwebs/informationforinvestors/reports10/sustainability/human-rights.htm